MAKE MONEY ONLINE POSTS: 11/10/15

الثلاثاء، 10 نوفمبر 2015

Melbourne Monopoly fails to pass Go

MELBOURNE finally has its own version of Monopoly, but it’s been raising some eyebrows. Did the makers get it wrong?

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Koko Black chocolate maker goes bust

PREMIUM Australian chocolate maker and retailer Koko Black has fallen into administration.

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Victoria’s other secret: Man behind curtain

THE secret is out. While all eyes are on the scantily clad women, we pull back the curtain on the elusive man behind the $7.8 billion empire.

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What it’s really like working at Aldi

ALDI workers have lifted the lid on what it’s like working at the discount supermarket, with one staffer comparing it to “slave labour camps”.

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Shops can now open on Boxing Day

IF YOU can’t wait for the sales, or just want a break from the family, you’ll now be able to shop up a storm on Boxing Day. But critics aren’t impressed

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Baby formula sellers making $100k

AS THE baby formula shortage reaches crisis levels, an army of Chinese expats are buying up and reselling precious stock — and raking it in.

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Black Friday Comes Early for Sam’s Club Members: Don’t Miss These Deals!

Hey Sam’s Club members! If you’re anxiously awaiting Black Friday, it’s coming sooner than you think.

Sam’s Club has released its holiday sale flyer — but their one-day-only sale isn’t the day after Thanksgiving — it starts at 7 a.m., Saturday, November 14th.

Real Deals, Really Early

It’s worth checking out lots of Sam’s Club’s deals.

The 55-inch Hitachi LE55A6R9 1080p TV, complete with Roku Streaming Stick, has 3.5 stars on Sam’s Club’s website, listed at $528.

During the sale, Sam’s Club will lower the price to $398 — a far cry from the $600 Walmart is asking today.

Or get your hands on a 15.6-inch HP laptop for just $399 (down from $459). This computer comes with an Intel i5 Processor, 1 TB hard drive and 6 gigs of RAM.

Here’s the full flyer:

Save Even More Money

You can get up to 7% cash back through Giving Assistant shopping Sam’s Club’s deals online, according to our favorite cash-back tracker, Cashbackholic.

Use your Discover it card and get 5% cash back for up to $1,500 in purchases both in stores or online.

They’re currently out of stock, but be sure to check Raise to see if you can also score a discounted gift card. That way, if you plan on purchasing $300 worth of items, you might only spend, say, $275.

So it’s easy to save a lot. Plus, you can keep your Thanksgiving weekend Friday free for more important activities than shopping — like eating leftovers.

Your Turn: Which of these deals makes your early-bird Black Friday list?

Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.

Jamie Cattanach is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and a native Floridian. She’s passionate about learning, literature, chocolate and finding ways to live the good life as cost-effectively as possible. You can wave hi to @jamiecattanach on Twitter.

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Want a Free $11 to Spend at Walgreens? Buy Shampoo Today

Sick of getting in the shower and rinsing your hair — only to realize you’re all out of shampoo?

If you stock up on Pantene products at Walgreens today, you could earn $11.

Plus, you’ll be set on suds for a while. Cool, right?

Here’s the Deal

Are you a regular Walgreens shopper? If so, you should know about the drugstore’s awesome Balance Rewards point system, which helps you earn cash-value coupons to use in the store later.

For example, if you spend $30 today, you’ll earn 5,000 points — equal to $5 in free money to spend at Walgreens.

We found a Balance Rewards hack to earn you big cash back — and we already did the math.

Here’s how it works:

Pantene products are on sale at Walgreens this month for $4 each when you buy two — plus, they’ll earn you 4,000 Balance Rewards points. There’s also a Procter & Gamble coupon in the Sunday paper for a free Pantene conditioner or styler with your purchase of a Pantene shampoo.

So if you buy four shampoos and use those coupons, you’ll spend $16 and receive four free conditioners or styling products — and earn 16,000 points.

Then, spend $30 to take advantage of the 5,000 extra points offer on the front page of this week’s Walgreens ad. This is the part of the deal that expires today!

Here’s the best part: Since there’s another active offer this month that earns you 3,000 points for every $15 you spend before coupons, that $30 expenditure will earn you 6,000 extra points.

And there you have it! You’ve earned 27,000 Balance Rewards points, worth $27 to use at Walgreens later on. Subtract your initial investment of $16, and you’ve earned $11!

Pressed for Time?

If you can’t make it to Walgreens today, don’t worry. Downsize your purchase to two of each product later this week, and you could still make $3 back.

You’ll earn 8,000 points on the Pantene purchase. Then, just spend a total of $15 at Walgreens — before coupons — by November 28 to earn 3,000 points.

That adds up to 11,000 points — or $11 to spend at Walgreens later. Since you spent $8 on Pantene, that means you’ve earned $3 back.

Ready to get stocked up on shampoo — and some extra cash? Let us know how it goes!

Your Turn: Will you take advantage of this Walgreens coupon hack?

The post Want a Free $11 to Spend at Walgreens? Buy Shampoo Today appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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30-store hunt for baby formula ... then this

PANICKED parents are searching for hours to find precious baby formula amid a nationwide shortage. Meanwhile, this is happening.

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Look at All the Free Stuff I Got for Creating a Baby Registry at Target!

When you’ve got a baby on the way, your to-buy list gets long pretty quick. You’ll need a crib, a stroller, a car seat, plenty of diapers… and the cost of all of those baby items adds up. Having a baby is expensive!

That’s why it’s really nice to find opportunities to get free baby stuff.

A baby shower is a way for those closest to you to help give your new baby the best start possible. And a baby registry makes this easier for everyone involved.

But we’ve found something that makes all of that even better.

Get Free Baby Stuff When You Register at Target

Target shows their appreciation for what new moms are going through by rewarding you when you create your registry with them.

When you set up your gift registry, Target will give you a gift bag with more than $60 in coupons and select samples.

I’m not expecting, but I decided to test-drive the registry. We don’t want to recommend anything we can’t vouch for, so I wanted to see for myself what really comes with the free gift — I was impressed!

My gift package included more than $50 in coupons for brands like Pampers, Honest, Liz Lange and even Starbucks.

And I got these free samples:

Aquaphor diaper rash cream
Olly prenatal multivitamin
MAM pacifier
Lansinoh breastfeeding storage bags
The Honest Company diapers and wipes
Pampers wipes
Philips Avent natural bottle

How to Get Your Free Baby Gifts

Click here to create your registry.
Check your inbox for the Welcome to the Target Baby Registry email. This will include an invite to pick up your Welcome Gift, which includes coupons and free samples.
Go to Guest Services at any Target store (no need to choose ahead of time) to pick up your gift. Mine was super easy! I didn’t wait in line, and the gift bag was ready when I got there.
Manage your registry online or download the Target Registry app. With the app, you can add items manually, or browse in the store and scan them in.

In addition to the enticing freebies, here are a few more reasons why we love the Target baby registry:

Convenience

Almost everyone you know has a nearby Target store. Even last-minute shoppers will be able to swing through the store before the get-together and grab something from your list.

If there isn’t a store nearby, friends can shop online easily using your registry.

Target ships gifts directly to you without shoppers ever seeing your address. And if you need to return anything, you can make your returns at any Target location.

Creating the registry is a really easy process, too. I had to create a Target account at the same time, and the whole thing took less than five minutes. You could probably sit for hours selecting the perfect gifts, though!

If you’re strapped for time or don’t know where to begin, Target helps by suggesting some baby registry must-haves, and even has ready-made lists you can add to your registry.

You’ll also be able to manage your registry on the go with the Target Registry smartphone app. Manually add items, or browse in the store and scan items to add to your registry.

Returns

You have up to one year after your shower to return or exchange items from your registry. So if you hang onto those items for when baby is older, only to find they’re not a good fit, you can take them back, hassle-free.

Plus, if you have a Target REDCard, you’ll save money if you have to pay to replace any of these items.

TPH reader and mother of two Rachael McNeal points out, “While there are not as many options as Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby at Target, I knew if I needed to return anything and buy something else, I would get 5% off that purchase with my Target REDCard.”

More Savings

First, your registry items come with free shipping on all orders of $25 or more.

Second, Target offers a registry completion discount. That means within eight weeks of the due date listed in your registry, you’ll receive a 15% off coupon by mail that’s good for one full day of shopping in the store, plus four additional coupons you can share with friends and family.

You’ll also receive a 15%-off discount code that you can use for one online purchase. You can only use these discounts to buy items already on your registry, though.

You can also find tons of other ways to save at Target. Find offers for baby stuff on Cartwheel, Target’s shopping app.

Pay attention to emails about discounts you can get for using your REDCard or Target gift cards. You (and family and friends) can save even more by finding discounted Target gift cards on sites like Raise or CardCash.

Ready to plan for your shower? Click here to start your registry.

Your Turn: Have you opened a baby registry with Target? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a Staff Writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, and she would like to let her family know that she is definitely NOT pregnant.

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What I’ve Learned as a Volunteer Trash Collector

Photo: Harmon

When I worked in the television industry, I read a great comedy script by veteran writer Greg Garcia, the creator of My Name Is Earl and several other successful TV shows. It was called Super Clyde.

It was about a young man who inherits a lot of money and decides to use it to perform anonymous acts of kindness for people in his community. He payed parking tickets for people, picked up grocery tabs and performed other small but significant acts of generosity. While it wasn’t the funniest premise (probably why it never got made), it always stuck with me as a good idea for a show.

While I was procrastina– I mean “working” — a few weeks ago, I decided to do some Googling to learn more about that show. That’s when I read something that blew me away. Greg Garcia got his idea to write Super Clyde, in part, from what he learned while working at a Burger King during the Hollywood writers’ strike of 2007-08. That’s right. A multimillionaire, A-List writer flipped burgers for a month. He says he had “gotten spoiled” and wanted to see if he could still handle tough jobs like the ones he had growing up.

This was presumably an experience he would write about at some point, and he admitted to wanting to make an Undercover Boss-type TV show about rich people working low-paying jobs. So his motives were not entirely altruistic. But that doesn’t change the fact that he actually went through with his plan. Despite there being no cameras, no press, no entourage making him Instagram-famous, he went ahead and worked at the Burger King for a month. At the end, he chose a co-worker to present with a $10,000 check. If that’s not a good reason to smile at that shy person in your office every once in awhile, I don’t know what is.

I was pondering the sheer awesomeness of this unprovoked act of anonymous kindness as I was on a walk recently. I was walking through a local middle school’s athletic field when I noticed some trash that had been left behind from a weekend soccer game. I thought, “Man, littering is lame. It’s too bad there are chip bags all over this beautiful field.” And I kept walking.

Then, I stopped. I wondered, “What would Greg Garcia do?” While it’s likely that Greg Garcia would have kept walking past the trash right back to his mega-mansion and enjoyed a glass of $700-per-shot tequila, I got it in my mind that he just might pick up that trash. Inspired, I turned around and picked up the chip bags.

I marched them over to the trash can and felt a warm sense of contentment. I know, it’s not like I’d just decided to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders or anything, but for me, this was a big step. I am not the kind of person to pick up other people’s trash. In fact, I’m a low-key litterer myself. I say “low-key” because I would never eat a bag of chips and throw the bag right on the ground. But, a piece of gum or tiny gum wrapper? An apple core? I’ve been known to litter those types of things if there isn’t a trash can nearby.

But, in that moment, I was reformed. It felt so good to throw that trash away that I marched over the entire field and picked up all the trash I could find. When I was done, I had filled a bag to the brim with trash and my soul to the brim with satisfaction. I’ve cleaned that school’s field five nights a week since that first outing, and I’ve discovered that the process has helped magnify and put into perspective many different life lessons.

Anonymous Acts of Kindness Are Therapeutic

I’m a fan of traditional therapy. If you have serious issues, please see a professional. But for someone like me, who is mostly happy but also prone to periods of great existential angst, walking around a quiet field at night picking up trash works wonders to calm the mind.

The simple act of giving myself over to a pursuit that has no intrinsic monetary value is tremendously freeing. There are no goals, no deadlines, no watcher. It is freeing. I can do as much or as little as I want. But, curiously, that brings me to my next point.

You Won’t Feel Your Best Unless You Try Your Best

The first couple of nights, I was full of purpose. I walked the field top to bottom and cleaned every nook and cranny. But, once the whole thing became routine, I found myself not wanting to clean certain areas.

Ugh, that corner is where I found a dirty bandage.

The bottom of the stairs is always gross, I’ll skip that part.

My feet hurt, I don’t want to walk on the asphalt basketball courts.

And on and on. Yet every time I would resolve not to clean a certain part, I’d end up sucking it up and doing it anyway. I felt like I was letting someone down if I didn’t.

Once something goes from novel to rote, it gets a little less exciting. But if you push past that initial dissatisfaction, you’ll find that there is something intrinsically pleasing about doing your best, every time.

Sure, no one is grading my performance or yelling at me if I slack off, but those extrinsic motivations pale in comparison to what you can accomplish when you simply decide to expect more from yourself.

If You Only Look in Well-Lit Places, You’re Not Seeing Everything

I always do my cleaning at night. There are certain areas of the school that are well lit, and it is tempting to do those areas first, give a cursory glance to the rest of the field, and call it a night. I mean, it’s so easy to spot the popsicle sticks when they are right under a halogen bulb!

But no matter how clean the darker areas look, there is inevitably just as much trash in those places. It can be a slog to march around the dark perimeter, straining my eyes to see the moonlight glinting off pieces of plastic, but it’s important. Kids leave wrappers everywhere. They don’t discriminate. I’d be missing out on a massive portion of the trash if I limited my search to where it was convenient.

Similarly, it’s easy to take only the classes in subjects where you already excel. It’s easy to stay with the same cable provider, insurance provider and bank instead of searching for better options. It’s easy to stay in your house instead of going to that networking event. After all, it’s so bright and cozy in there!

But if you don’t push yourself to get out of your comfort zone, you might miss the opportunity to learn a new skill that could get you a raise, considerably lower your monthly bills, or meet that person who could give you a great job down the road. Doing my nightly cleaning rounds helped me realize that.

It’s Easier to Achieve Fitness Goals When You’re Doing Something With Purpose

For about a year now, I’ve had a goal to walk 10,000 steps per day. Sometimes I get there, sometimes I don’t. Pretty much the only foolproof way to get my steps in, even when I don’t feel like walking, is to go clean the field. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re immersed in an activity that you feel benefits the greater good.

I’ve Judged Way Too Many Books by Their Covers

I’m trying to learn Hebrew at the moment, so I often take my phone with me while I clean so I can practice. That leads to moments like I had the other night.

I was hunched over, picking up trash, in the dark, mumbling Hebrew verbs to myself. I looked up and saw a kid who was probably 12 years old riding his bike right past me. He looked at me the way a horror movie director wants his extras to look when the monster walks past. This kid was weirded out and scared. I’ve never seen someone pedal so fast to get out of there.

I probably would have been spooked, too, if I saw a grown man mumbling to himself on a school field in the middle of the night. I’ve been on the other side of situations like that, and my thought is always, “I wonder what that freakazoid is doing.” I would never think that someone in my situation was just a local guy cleaning up garbage, just for the heck of it. Now, I take care to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Janitors Do Not Get Enough Respect

So far, I’ve made out cleaning trash to be rather glamorous, but that’s easy for me to say when I do it out of my own volition. I have a newfound respect for those men and women who clean up after us each and every day. It can be gross, tiring, and even a little disheartening.

I mean, why would someone just dump a bag of chips, a glass bottle, a juice box and a pack of cigarettes right down on the field? There’s a trash can 20 feet away! And also, isn’t going to the middle school to smoke cigarettes something that only happens in movies? I guess not.

Kudos to everyone working this thankless job.

Wealth Is About Way More than Money

I could be improving my net worth if I spent my nights picking up a side hustle instead of cleaning. Or I could work on my current job at night. I could even go to the school district and be like, “Hey, I clean your school every night, would you ever pay me for it?”

But it’s not about that. I like doing it for free. I like the idea of a janitor having a bad day, heading outside to clean the field, and seeing that it’s spotless. I like feeling like I am clearing up some of the bad karma I created by littering all those years. Those kinds of things may not have monetary value, but they improve my life, and I wouldn’t want to give them up for a few extra bucks.

And while cleaning trash on a regular basis might not be your cup of tea, I can guarantee you’ll feel a twinge of satisfaction if you bend down and pick up the next piece of litter you see. If not that, try doing some other anonymous act of kindness. Pay the toll for the car behind you. Buy a coffee for the person in line behind you.

I’m not preaching that we can achieve some “kumbaya” utopia just by doing nice things every once in a while. I’m just telling you what I’ve gleaned as a former cynic who is trying to do a tiny bit of good in the world. Not everything is about wealth accumulation, and small acts matter more than you think.

The post What I’ve Learned as a Volunteer Trash Collector appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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12 Tips for Investors in Their 50s and 60s

Now is the time to analyze your retirement savings and focus on how to reach your goals in 10 years.

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4 Must-See Roadside Attractions

Many national treasures are completely free to visit.

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4 Things to Know About Real Estate Investments

REITs and real estate ETFs are great ways to diversify a portfolio, but be careful not to overdo it.

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Oops! 6 Holiday Costs We Forget to Budget For

Make a list and check it twice as you financially prepare for the holiday season.

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8 Steps to Finding a Job When You Relocate

Job-searching in a new city comes with unique challenges.

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10 Ways to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft During the Holidays

As the shopping season picks up, so does theft activity.

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This Bank Is Anything But Boring — and Pays 1.4% Interest

Most U.S. banks are boring. The average annual interest rates for savings and checking accounts that pay interest are just 0.06 and 0.04%.

And CD rates aren’t much better. Plus, you can only deal in dollars.

But not all banks are the same. How would you like to have all the usual savings, checking and loan products, plus be able to…

Immediately get 1.4% on your checking account

Open savings accounts in numerous foreign currencies

Open a money market account guaranteed to be better than 95% of banks

Buy CDs guaranteed to be better than 95% of other banks (a promise based on the data published by Bankrate Monitor National Index)

Buy foreign currency CDs

Open precious metal accounts

Quickly get an actual person on the phone when you call (in my experience).

Scan and deposit checks with your phone

Automatically get reimbursed for any fees when you access your account at another bank’s ATM

EverBank has all this and more. The bank also features a discount brokerage for trading stocks, a no-lose CD that lets you bet on foreign economies and even an account that provides FDIC protection for way more than the usual $250,000 limit (if you have that wonderful problem).

What is EverBank?

I’ve banked here on and off for years. My short review: Good service from an innovative bank.

Bank Tracker says,

EverBank Financial Corp is a privately held bank holding company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. With approximately $11.5 billion in assets, $8.9 billion in deposits, approximately 2,000 employees, and over 700,000 customers nationwide, EverBank is one of the industry’s fastest growing, high performing bank holding companies.

They rate the bank a “B+” based on everything from fees, rates and customer reviews to financial health.

Bank Tracker notes that a scarcity of physical locations keeps the rating down. If you want a physical branch at which to do business, this probably isn’t the bank for you. EverBank specializes in online banking, and a bank location list shows they only have branches in Florida.

I opened an account long before I moved to Florida, and did so because they showed up in an online search as the bank with the best interest rates at the time.

What Makes EverBank Different?

Here’s a quick rundown of some of EverBank’s offerings, starting with two accounts I’ve had there…

Yield Pledge Checking

The bank guarantees an interest rate in the top 5% of banks.

At the moment, the rate goes from 0.30 to 0.61%, depending on your balance. But if you’re a new customer, you can get 1.40% on any balance for the first six months.

Yield Pledge Money Market

You get the same “top 5%” guarantee and 1.40% on any balance for six months as a new customer. The rate is 0.61% on any balance after that.

Yield Pledge CDs

Again, they promise rates in the top 5% of banks. The minimum to open a CD is just $1,500. But these are ordinary CDs, unlike…

MarketSafe CDs

These various CDs come and go. At the moment, the FDIC insured 5-Year MarketSafe Future Economies CD lets you bet on the currencies of emerging economies (six countries in the mix).

You might make 10%, 100% or nothing, but you’re guaranteed not to lose a penny. Minimum to open: $1,500.

Single Currency CDs

Choose from many currencies. For example, you can get a three-month Brazilian real CD that pays 9%! Other CDs pay no interest and are pure speculative bets.

These are FDIC-insured against bank insolvency, but you can still lose money if the currency you choose loses value against the dollar. Minimum investment: $10,000.

World Currency CD Baskets

You can chose from various baskets of currencies depending on your goals. These are also FDIC insured, but you can lose money from currency fluctuations.

Foreign Currency Savings Accounts

Choose from 20 currencies. Some pay nothing, while others pay as much as 8% interest. For example, a Russian ruble account with a balance of about $12,000 will get you 5%.

Of course, even though these are FDIC insured against bank insolvency, you could lose money quickly if the ruble drops again.

Precious Metals Accounts

Not sure if you trust currencies? You can invest in precious metal bars and coins with $7,500 or more. These aren’t FDIC insured, and can fluctuate in value.

Your metals are stored for you, although TrustableGold.com notes that “The gold or silver is stored by third-party repositories, but it is contractually not defined where the precious metals are stored geographically and by whom.”

EverBank Direct Brokerage

Not only are the commissions reasonable ($9 for up to 10,000 shares with domestic online equity trades), but you can trade stocks in more than 25 foreign markets.

What Else?

If you have the fortunate problem of having too much money for FDIC insurance (which is limited to $250,000), EverBank has a “CDARS service” which will distribute your millions between CDs in various banks so all of your money is insured.

Here are a few more things to consider:

Opening an account online is easy (that’s how I started).

Customer service is OK, but not perfect.

EverBank is a little slow with wire transfers (in my experience).

With few physical locations (mostly in Florida) you’ll have to connect your EverBank accounts to your checking account at a local bank for easy access via transfers.

Transfers to and from your local bank can take a few days.

So yes, there are a few drawbacks to an EverBank account. In fact, when I once wired money for a real estate closing, I caught an error they made that would have delayed closing the deal.

And, no, EverBank didn’t pay me to write this. In fact, I don’t even have an account there at the moment because I found a better interest rate at My Savings Direct. But I’ll probably be back with EverBank at some point.

You might want to consider this bank. Where else can you put your money into an Indian rupee CD and invest in the German stock market?

Your Turn: Have you ever had an EverBank account?

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s been a repo-man, walking stick carver, search engine evaluator, house flipper, tram driver, process server, mock juror and roulette croupier, but of more than 100 ways he has made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

The post This Bank Is Anything But Boring — and Pays 1.4% Interest appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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An Angler’s Retirement in New Zealand

These five fishing destinations are worth the trip.

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10 Things to Know About Job Searching as a Veteran

Career confidence is increasing among veterans searching for civilian jobs, according to a recent survey.

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Experts: El Nino Will Keep Energy Stocks Cool This Winter

Low natural gas prices, inflated reserves and a mild winter forecast spell trouble for energy stocks.

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Audio: Preparing Your Finances for Natural Disasters

It pays to get ready for an evacuation in advance.

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4 Essential Books for Fixing Your Debt Problems

Paying off debt is hard, but these books spell out an easy game plan.

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Seven Key Approaches for Solving a Gambling Addiction and Getting Your Life and Finances Back on Track

In 2005, I went through a period where I played a great deal of online poker. During that timeframe, online poker was in a boom period. It was easy to take money in and out of accounts and there were many people playing who should not have been playing, making huge nonsensical wagers and the like.

Being a fairly analytical person, I figured this would be a good way to bring in some money during my spare time, so I started playing in online poker tournaments after work. After depositing $100 in that account, I did well in several low stakes tournaments and gradually built that balance up to about $500. I then played in a bigger tournament one weekend afternoon when Sarah wasn’t around in which I put down a healthy amount (I think it was $100) and I made it to the final table, earning about $1,200 and bringing my account balance up to about $1,700.

That set the hook. I started playing more and more and more. I played in a few more $100 tournaments where I didn’t do as well, but I shrugged it off. Eventually, I watched my balance drop down to about $850.

On another long Saturday, I played in a $500 entry fee tournament. It was a lot of money. I had lasted for a long time and was just on the verge of making money when I chose to go all in with a pair of aces and a situation that seemed like a sure win. There were only three possible sets of hole cards that my opponent could have that could beat me.

Of course, he had one of those sets. My balance went down to $250 in a heartbeat.

That scared me, but at the same time, I had this immediate urge to just start another tournament. It was at that point that I realized I was beginning to get addicted to online poker.

Thankfully, I had enough sense to stop playing right then and there and give the situation some thought. I went on a walk for a while and thought about things, then I did a bit of research and just decided to quit cold turkey. A few days later, I logged on and emptied out my account.

I was beyond fortunate to have that moment of self-realization early on before it began to have a truly negative impact on my finances and my relationships. I have witnessed firsthand the effects of a gambling addiction on a marriage and on a person’s financial state and it can be devastating.

It’s also a subject that I hear often from readers who ask me questions via Facebook. I’ll hear from individuals who are suffering from incredible personal challenges brought on by gambling addiction.

When I hear these stories, I offer the best help that I can. I’ve looked at my own experiences with gambling addiction, dug deep into the topic through reading, and had conversations with addiction counselors. Over and over again, I see a number of themes that keep coming up in terms of solving the problem.

What follows are seven key steps that seem to be very widely agreed upon when it comes to getting a grip on gambling addiction. They match up well with my own experiences, the experiences of others that I’ve witnessed, and the advice shared by professionals in this area. Consider these steps the beginning of your new journey in life.

Step #1 – Use a Simple Litmus Test to Figure Out If You Have a Gambling Problem

It’s a really simple question. If you’ve ever had even the slightest hint that you might have a problem with gambling, ask yourself this:

Has your gambling ever caused you to have any kind of problem with your money or with your personal relationships?

If that answer is yes or if the question even gave you serious pause, then you have a gambling problem. If gambling has interfered in your financial life or your personal life, then it has become a serious problem that needs to be addressed head on.

One of the most pernicious aspects of addiction is that it leaves you blind to the consequences of your troubles. You’re aware that it’s causing problems in other areas of your life, but you convince yourself that they’re only temporary.

The truth of the matter is that if an addiction is causing you problems in your personal, professional, or financial life at all, then you have a gambling problem and you need to address it as quickly as possible. There are no ifs, buts, or exceptions.

Step #2 – Talk About Your Problems Anonymously

Once you recognize within yourself that you do have a problem with gambling, the next step is to talk about it. That can be very challenging for some, as it means admitting your flaws to someone else.

A great first move in that journey is to talk to someone that you don’t actually know, someone that has a great understanding of what you’re struggling with and won’t judge you, someone that will listen and can help you get ready for further steps.

That’s exactly what the National Problem Gambling Helpline provides.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is a program run by the National Council on Problem Gambling to help people talk their way through immediate gambling crises and look for local resources to help them recover. You can call the number or even just send a text in order to get the conversation started. Most of the time, this single helpline refers people to groups and helplines in specific states and regions.

Here’s the number: 1-800-522-4700. You can call or text it any time you need help.

Step #3 – Talk About Your Problems to Friends and Family, Especially Those Who Have a Stake in Your Behavior

This is an incredibly painful step for many gambling addicts, as it not only involves confession of their own misbehavior but it also often involves confession of how the gambler’s mistakes have had a negative impact on that person. Telling your wife how you’ve spent some of your retirement savings, for example, or telling a parent that you’ve used their credit cards for gambling can be incredibly hard – not only have you personally failed, you’ve also dragged them down with you without their consent.

Yet it is within that discussion that healing often begins.

Quite often, that other person is aware of your mistakes, so it’s often not purely revelatory to them. Even when you think you have “hidden” your gambling, they’re often aware of it through other signs – receipts, time use, and so on.

The healing comes from the fact that you had the personal strength to realize that you were making mistakes and that you are willing to admit to those errors. That takes character and is a sign that you’re willing to see your own mistakes and fix them to the best of your ability.

Yes, family members and friends are going to be upset with you. They’re going to be disappointed. They might react with anger or tears or sadness or some level of rejection.

That’s okay. That’s part of the healing process. It provides a sign for you that there’s work to be done to make things right.

Step #4 – Discover New Outlets for Relieving Challenging Feelings

For many, many gamblers – myself included, as well as the people in my family – gambling provides an outlet for relieving challenging feelings, and that becomes one of the reasons that a gambling addiction is so hard to break.

Our day to day lives mixed with our own personalities often leave us starving for certain kinds of emotions. Gambling is particularly good at molding itself to fill those emotional needs. One of the biggest strategies for overcoming what gambling provides for you is to figure out exactly what itch gambling is scratching in your life and find other ways to scratch it.

Here are some of the common ways that gambling fulfills an emotional need in our life, along with ways to find a better outlet for that emotion.

You crave excitement and adrenaline. You love the excitement that gambling can provide. You love the feeling that a big win or a big loss can ride on just a single turn of the card or roll of the dice. It’s an adrenaline rush!

The best outlet for this kind of desire is to find a challenging hobby. Many physically demanding hobbies are perfect for this, requiring you to push yourself to the limit and then put yourself on the line in competitions like 5K races and so on. There are many other mentally demanding hobbies that can provide similar feelings, whether it is a competitive game or something else entirely. I get a big adrenaline rush from putting together well-planned strategies in board games, for example.

You crave relaxation. Many people enjoy the soothing nature of some types of gambling. The repetitive feeling of putting a coin into a slot machine, pulling the lever or hitting the button, and watching the dials spin before you see a result can put people in a very relaxed state. Add into that a complementary drink or two and people can use gambling to depart from their everyday worries for a while.

One strategy to try here is to dig deep into meditation. Read some books, watch some videos, and even take a few classes on meditation techniques. I find meditation incredibly valuable for relaxing and getting myself into a mindset where I feel less stress and tend to be very productive.

You enjoy the social bond of going to the track or playing in live poker events. Some people simply enjoy the community that forms around some types of gambling. Perhaps they do it with their friends, or perhaps over time they’ve become a part of a community of gamblers, sharing tips and enjoying each other’s company.

One great solution to this problem is to find other groups to join and participate in. Use Meetup.com to find some groups in your area related to your other interests and dive in head first. If you can’t find anything there to your liking, seek out other sources for social gatherings. Look at the message boards at libraries and at city hall. Get involved with a church. There are many open doors waiting for you if you choose to step through them.

You use gambling as an escape from your problems. Gambling feels like a respite from the other areas of your life, areas that leave you feeling upset and disgruntled. Perhaps gambling provides an opportunity to step away from a difficult relationship, or maybe it provides a break from the stresses of the workplace.

When you find yourself using any activity to avoid the problems presented in your life, you should strongly consider visiting a therapist who can help you find more constructive ways to actually work through those problems and eliminate them without sacrificing your financial future. Quite often, simply having someone to lay out your problems to in an open fashion can really help and leave you with less that you feel as though you have to escape from. You can typically start down this path by contacting your primary care physician, who will help you find the right path to follow.

You use gambling because it fills the hours. You’re bored with your day to day life and gambling gives you something to fill the hours. Sure, you lose some money, but it’s better than simply sitting at home and staring at the television.

If that sounds like you, you should start trying lots of different activities. The suggestions above are a good start – try looking at Meetup.com or examining the message boards at city hall or the local library. Contact old friends and family members and see what they’re doing. Take up a solo hobby that you’ve always wanted to try – it’s far less expensive to start crafting or to read great literature for example than it is to gamble.

You gamble because it seems like the only way out of your financial problems. Sometimes, when you are already in a financial pickle, you may try to convince themself that, even though the odds of financial success are pretty slim when it comes to gambling, it at least has some chance of getting you out of a jam. If you don’t do something, then you’re just going to sink financially anyway.

The problem here is that, if you have the resources to gamble, you have the resources to at least rearrange your financial state so that you’re not immediately drowning in debt. Once you’ve stabilized a little bit, you have a great opportunity to start looking for better long term solutions. Try reading books like The Total Money Makeover or Your Money or Your Life to get some ideas on how to turn your situation around and build a better life.

Step #5 – Get Sincerely Involved with Group Support

Many people struggling with addictions of all kinds feel very alone in their battle. Often, they’re the only one in their immediate social structure that is caught in the throes of gambling, so they often have feelings of secrecy or a strong sense that the people around them don’t understand the powerful draw of gambling.

That’s the reason why a supportive community of fellow recovering gamblers can be an incredible benefit to those who are trying to overcome a gambling addiction. It’s a group of people struggling with the same exact things, people who understand the struggles, can share tips, and can applaud the successes.

The most prolific group for recovering gamblers is Gambers Anonymous, which offers a ton of resources for people struggling with gambling addiction. There are meetings in many cities and towns, where people can get together and support each other as they resist that siren’s call.

Groups like this work really well for some and don’t work as well for others. Regardless of where you find yourself, it’s well worth your time to at least give such a group a shot and see if it clicks for you. The value it can bring into your life is tremendous.

Step #6 – Practice Postponement

One incredibly useful coping strategy for any type of addiction is postponement. It is incredibly good at helping you get through those moments when the temptation is strongest.

It’s simple. Whenever you have an urge to gamble, tell yourself that instead of gambling right now, you’ll gamble next week instead. Look for reasons why it would be better to gamble next week instead of now – maybe you’ll have more time or something like that.

Whatever reason you come up with, the real reason for postponement is to convince you to back away from the ledge. You may be postponing that gambling event in your mind, but what you’re actually doing is buying yourself several days for your more rational side to kick in and reflect on that urge to gamble.

Any length of postponement will work. Even an hour can work for some people, as that single hour can give you enough time to rethink your desire to gamble.

This is pretty similar to one of the tactics I used to break some of my own poor spending habits. I used something I called the “thirty day rule” when I wanted to buy something that I couldn’t really afford or justify. I’d put the item back and then agree to buy it in thirty days if I still wanted it at that point.

What I found is that when the thirty days were up, I often didn’t want that item any more. In those thirty days, I had come to realize that I didn’t really need the item after all.

Postponement often works the exact same way. During that postponement period, you’ll often discover that gambling won’t really give you the things you want anyway, so you’ll lose the strong motivation to do it.

Step #7 – Build Out Your Social Network

As Jim Rohn put it so well, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you surround yourself with people who have addictive personalities, you’ll find it easier to give into addictions. If you surround yourself with people who gamble, you’re much more likely to gamble.

The best way to counteract that is to simply start building out your social network. Focus on building stronger friendships with people you know that don’t gamble. Get involved in the things that you have in common with them and make a conscious effort to spend more time with them.

For the other people in your life, particularly those who may have a problem with gambling, make an honest effort to seek out non-gambling activities with them.

The goal here is to seek out people and activities and social situations that don’t involve gambling in any way. The more you fill your life with things that have nothing to do with gambling, the less likely you are to find room or desire for gambling in your life.

As with all of the other items on this list, it is never going to be a guaranteed fix, but it certainly can be a major piece of the puzzle.

Final Thoughts

A gambling addiction is pernicious and nasty. It drains your finances, feeds on hope, and leaves you with damaged relationships. It can bury you in debt and leave you in despair.

There is hope, however, and it starts with recognizing that you do have a problem. Taking the steps above can lead you down a path away from gambling and toward a brighter future for you and the people you love the most.

If you feel like you might be a gambling addict and want one action point to take away from this article, it’s this. 1-800-522-4700 The people who will pick up the phone really can help.

Good luck.

The post Seven Key Approaches for Solving a Gambling Addiction and Getting Your Life and Finances Back on Track appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards

Smart shoppers can nab extra discounts, reward points and cash back just for swiping their credit card.

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Seven Key Approaches for Solving a Gambling Addiction and Getting Your Life and Finances Back on Track

Of course, he had one of those sets. My balance went down to $250 in a heartbeat.

That scared me, but at the same time, I had this immediate urge to just start another tournament. It was at that point that I realized I was beginning to get addicted to online poker.

Step #1 – Use a Simple Litmus Test to Figure Out If You Have a Gambling Problem

It’s a really simple question. If you’ve ever had even the slightest hint that you might have a problem with gambling, ask yourself this:

Has your gambling ever caused you to have any kind of problem with your money or with your personal relationships?

Step #2 – Talk About Your Problems Anonymously

That’s exactly what the National Problem Gambling Helpline provides.

Here’s the number: 1-800-522-4700. You can call or text it any time you need help.

Step #3 – Talk About Your Problems to Friends and Family, Especially Those Who Have a Stake in Your Behavior

Yet it is within that discussion that healing often begins.

Yes, family members and friends are going to be upset with you. They’re going to be disappointed. They might react with anger or tears or sadness or some level of rejection.

That’s okay. That’s part of the healing process. It provides a sign for you that there’s work to be done to make things right.

Step #4 – Discover New Outlets for Relieving Challenging Feelings

Here are some of the common ways that gambling fulfills an emotional need in our life, along with ways to find a better outlet for that emotion.

Step #5 – Get Sincerely Involved with Group Support

Step #6 – Practice Postponement

One incredibly useful coping strategy for any type of addiction is postponement. It is incredibly good at helping you get through those moments when the temptation is strongest.

Any length of postponement will work. Even an hour can work for some people, as that single hour can give you enough time to rethink your desire to gamble.

What I found is that when the thirty days were up, I often didn’t want that item any more. In those thirty days, I had come to realize that I didn’t really need the item after all.

Step #7 – Build Out Your Social Network

For the other people in your life, particularly those who may have a problem with gambling, make an honest effort to seek out non-gambling activities with them.

As with all of the other items on this list, it is never going to be a guaranteed fix, but it certainly can be a major piece of the puzzle.

Final Thoughts

A gambling addiction is pernicious and nasty. It drains your finances, feeds on hope, and leaves you with damaged relationships. It can bury you in debt and leave you in despair.

If you feel like you might be a gambling addict and want one action point to take away from this article, it’s this. 1-800-522-4700 The people who will pick up the phone really can help.

Good luck.

The post Seven Key Approaches for Solving a Gambling Addiction and Getting Your Life and Finances Back on Track appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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7 Best Rewards Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping

The holidays are prime time for heavy spending. Here are the most rewarding credit cards to earn cash back on gifts, travel and dining.

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7 Credit Card Perks That Really Aren't

From vacation deals to roadside assistance, some of these perks can be lame.

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8 Perks That Might Be Hiding in Your Credit Cards

From rental insurance to free concert tickets, you could be missing out.

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How to Save With Your Credit Cards During the Holidays

Your holiday shopping plan may need a credit card strategy, too.

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House prices ‘unaffordable’ for people earning less than £50,000

Tom Wilson

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First-time buyers need an income of at least £50,000 to get onto the property ladder, despite falling mortgage rates and government initiatives to support people buying their first home.

The average salary in the UK is just £22,000, less than half the amount needed to buy a property, according to research from GoCompare.com.

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Pension savers still tempted by property

Rachel Lacey

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Pension savers still charmed by property

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Savers consider workplace pensions to be the safest way of investing for retirement, but believe an investment in property will yield bigger returns, according to new research from the Office for National Statistics. It found that while 41% preferred the security of a workplace pension, compared to 28% for property, 44% believed that an investment in property would make them more money over the long term. Only 25% considered occupational savings to be the more profitable option. However while Brits put great faith in the potential of bricks and mortar, traditional pension plans may offer more impressive growth potential. Figures from Hargreaves Lansdown confirm that a well-chosen stockmarket investment could grow at a faster rate. The average balanced managed pension fund has returned 60% over the last 10 years, and while London house prices might be up more than 80% over the same period the Nationwide House Price Index reports a more modest UK average growth rate of 24.2%. Incentives to save from both the government and employers can also give pensions a head start over property. Tom McPhail, head of retirement policy at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “The combination of employer contributions, tax relief, secure trust laws, investment diversification and control over the withdrawals make workplace pensions the obvious default retirement saving vehicle. It is also notable that outside the South East, investment returns from pensions have been higher than property too.” He also warned about placing too much reliance on your current home for funding your retirement income. “For many people now approaching retirement, their property is likely to make a significant contribution to their overall wealth in retirement and will be particularly relevant as a capital reserve for costs such as later-life care,” he added.

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This Woman Built an Unconventional Side Business — and Now Makes $175 an Hour From Home

When you picture a psychic, do you think of a mysterious old woman bent over a crystal ball? Or a creepy infomercial for a 1-800 number that promises to tell your future?

It’s time to rethink psychics. You probably interact with telepathic people on a regular basis.

Kate Sitka is one of them. She says she’s been able to talk with animals since she was a kid. While psychic abilities have run in her family for generations, Sitka says she didn’t think that communicating with animals would be much of a career path.

“I figured it wouldn’t be a job until I was really old,” she explained.

But, after training for a nursing career and working in finance in Toronto, Sitka needed a change. She and her partner headed to Tofino, British Columbia, where they opened and operated a coffee roastery for a few years.

When they sold the business in 2012, Sitka was uncertain of her next career move. In the meantime, she started an anonymous blog where she explored her experiences communicating with animals, and started studying the human-spirit side of being a medium. She tested her skills by performing psychic readings for friends.

That’s when Sitka got the idea to set up a side hustle. Now, she has a roster of clients who seek her help to communicate with departed family and friends. She also performs pet readings to provide insight into the personality and behavior of clients’ living pets.

How a Psychic Gets Clients

Sitka built her customer base through word-of-mouth. She offered pet psychic readings, priced at $50 during a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, and quickly raised $1,000.

“It showed me I actually can make money doing this, and it’s OK to ask for it,” Sitka recalled.

She said 80% of her clients are repeat customers, and she expects that rate to surpass 90% in the next few years. Her client base is evenly split between human-focused and pet-focused work, but she admits she loves working with animals.

“They’re not as emotionally complicated as people,” she explained.

Setting Rates as a Psychic

Sitka quickly learned that her rates had to convey value for both her and her client. When she first started and charged $20 a session, people wouldn’t even show up.

“There was no respect for $20,” she laughed.

Raising her session rate to $100 per hour overnight ensured clients would attend their appointments.

But Sitka soon realized that rate didn’t truly cover her own time and energy. So she raised her hourly rate by $25 each year, settling on her current rate of $175 per hour. She’s happy with it, which she considers to be a middle rate for psychics.

“As your reputation increases and your demand increases, then your price increases, and part of that [adjustment] is putting the brakes on your demand,” she said.

By charging more, Sitka books fewer clients each week, creating work-life balance while still bringing in a considerable side income.

Sitka typically works with three clients per week. If she never took time off, seeing three clients each week at $175 each could earn her more than $27,000 per year.

And that’s on top of what she brings home from her other job. Sitka works 30 hours a week at a small local hospital, where she manages supply budgets and ordering, instrument processing and several other tasks.

She takes time off to travel and plan her business, but knowing how much you could make each week taking client appointments has to be a motivator for solopreneurs like Sitka.

How Sitka Built Her Brand

As a psychic, Sitka talks a lot. While she has experimented with writing and guest blogging, it’s probably no surprise she’s found podcasting to be a valuable marketing tactic for her business.

The Joyful Telepathy podcast expands on her blog and it’s also a gateway for potential clients.

“I wanted people to be able to hear my voice and know how I talk, how I operate,” Sitka said, “To be able to feel the enthusiasm about these topics and how much I care about these things.”

She can better communicate that enthusiasm vocally, so potential clients can imagine themselves on a call with Sitka before they ever book.

“People are really vulnerable,” Sitka said of her clients. “There’s a lot of emotional stuff” that gets covered in her sessions.

“They’re trusting you, they don’t know what to expect. But the better your reputation, the more safe people feel coming to you, and they feel better paying higher rates.”

What it Costs to Be a Psychic

One of the perks of offering services as a psychic or spirit medium: You don’t need any expensive licenses or certifications. But you still need to set yourself up for business success.

“Cover your legal basis about psychic advice not being a substitute for legal, medical, veterinary advice or psychological counseling,” Sitka advised. “I say it is for entertainment and spiritual enrichment.”

While working with most clients over the phone keepss Sitka’s business overhead low, there are still some investments she’s had to make.

First was replacing her laptop and handheld devices. “The biggest expense is technology,” she said.

But those tools help her build her brand, keep up with her blog and produce her podcast.

When she raised her rate and started to see more clients, she hired a housecleaning service to take care of energy-sucking chores.

Another investment is Edgar, a social media automation service that costs $49 per month. Edgar compiles a library of Sitka’s online content, and continuously promotes her most popular blog posts and podcast episodes on social media.

“I set it and I’ll forget it for six months at a time,” she said. She may only be able to intermittently release new podcasts or blog posts, but investing in social media automation “allows me to ensure I’m still present,” Sitka said.

“When people search the hashtag ‘psychic’ on Twitter, I want to be there. I want to be there every day.”

But sometimes seemingly unrelated business elements can make or break a side hustle.
When they first moved to British Columbia from Ontario, Sitka and her partner shared a house with several other people and pets — which didn’t work well when she started taking more client calls.

The pair recently moved to their own house outside Tofino, where Sitka has her own office and plenty of peace and quiet.

But there was a tradeoff: Moving further out of town required buying a car to get around. That investment was the most recent turning point for her business.

“That was a huge leap of faith in myself, taking out the car loan that I know I’m going to be paying with my business money,” Sitka said. “That was a line that I crossed with my business. But now I have an office!” She dropped her housecleaning service to make up for the cost of her new wheels.

Although she typically hosts three client sessions per week, Sitka has built time into her schedule to finish up a workshop to help people recognize and hone their own telepathic skills.

“You hit the point where dollars per hour isn’t enough, but you need additional income,” she said.

Rather than counsel individual clients, creating a self-paced classroom experience will help her reach more people at once.

Is Her Side Hustle Worth It?

“I know what it’s like to be a full-time entrepreneur, and I don’t want to do that again,” Sitka said of her coffee-roastery years.

But with 30 hours per week at the hospital, she’s got to be strategic to fit psychic readings into her schedule.

Sitka is busy, but exudes excitement when she talks about working as a spirit medium.

“I could have stayed in finance. I had it good in Toronto, but I was unhappy with my lifestyle,” she said. By making small changes over a longer period of time, she was able to set up a unique career that works for her.

“People say they wish they could do what (I) did, but you can. Make sure your choices are moving you toward that,” she said.

What’s the next big business move for Sitka? Investing in a La-Z-Boy recliner.

“When you sit and talk on the phone all day, you’ve got to be comfortable,” she said.

Your Turn: Have an interesting skill you’ve turned into a side hustle? Tell us about it!

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor and podcaster based in Baltimore.

The post This Woman Built an Unconventional Side Business — and Now Makes $175 an Hour From Home appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Love Him or Hate Him … 5 Things Every Entrepreneur Can Learn from Donald Trump

By Jan Pinnington Love him or hate him, Donald Trump, our nation’s wacky outspoken real estate investor, TV personality, business author, and now presidential candidate (with really bad hair), has some words of wisdom that every entrepreneur can learn from. Expectantly, when someone is a billionaire, (that’s billion with a “b” and 9 zeros behind […]

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Hidden danger of ‘Big Brother’ insurance

“AT THE end of the day, the insurers are only going to want to insure those people that are fit and healthy and don’t need anything done to them.”

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